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reports and analyses of the forces driving science and technology investment in Canada
editor: Mark Henderson How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson FEATURE REPORTS | RESEARCH BRIEFS | PERSONALITIES How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson, editor, RE$EARCH MONEY The Ontario government, like the federal Liberals two years ago, seems to be forging ahead with key elements of an S&T strategy well before the documentation outlining its intent and structure has seen the light of day. While the relevant provincial stakeholders wait to see the contents of the strategy, initiatives contained within the last budget and a recently released discussion paper on research policy indicate that the strategy is not only well formulated but is being implemented (link to item). While programs such as the R&D Challenge Fund and a new R&D tax incentive are welcome developments, Dr David Smith's paper offers insight into how Ontario's support of university research can be enhanced. There's no doubt that the thrust behind the Ontario policy is that of R&D collaboration between the private and public sectors. R&D has a two-fold purpose of contributing to the public good and assisting industry. Smith's paper suggests that the former is being neglected in the drive to boost economic productivity and competitiveness; an ultimately damaging tact since the two are inextricably linked. For those who already understand the function of R&D, Smith's conclusion is a no-brainer. It's up to the Ontario government, not to mention other provincial governments and the federal administration, to accept the links between basic research and prosperity, and make the appropriate fiscal and policy support available.
FEATURE REPORTS...
RE$EARCH MONEY EXCLUSIVE REPORT
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROMPTS PASTEUR MÉRIEUX GROUP TO LAUNCH $350-MILLION BIOTECHNOLOGY R&D PROJECT IN CANADA NEW ONTARIO CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE GEARING UP TO RISING DEMANDS OF CONVERGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND IT SECTORS POTENTIAL PARTNERS LINE UP TO COURT INNOVATIVE CIRCUIT BOARD FIRM'S LATEST INVENTION TO MINIATURIZE CHIP PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY PAPER CALLS FOR OFFICIAL POLICY AND NEW SPENDING TO REVERSE MOUNTING RESEARCH FUNDING DEFICIENCIES AT ONTARIO UNIVERSITIES McGILL UNIV AND THE UNIV OF MONTREAL COMBINING FORCES TO CREATE A PRIVATE-SECTOR DOMINATED FIRM TO COMMERCIALIZE RESEARCH ÉCOLE CLOSE TO AGREEMENT ON PRIVATE-SECTOR PARTNER IN NEW FIRM DEDICATED TO EXPLOITING ITS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RESEARCH BRIEFS
UMDI makes initial investment in Queen's-based Cytochroma University Medical Discoveries Inc (UMDI) has made a $250,000, non-equity investment in Cytochroma Inc, a new Queen's Univ-based research firm with proprietary screening technology being developed to clone a variety of new cytochrome proteins and identify their inhibitors. By identifying the inhibitors of the P450s, researchers hope to be able to block their action resulting in therapeutic agents capable of modulating drug metabolism. UMDI is an early-stage investment firm created by the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund. The financing is expected to last 6-9 months, at which time Cytochrome Inc will strive to add value to its technology before seeking a second, larger round of financing and moving into the incubation centre at Queen's Univ's new biosciences complex. Cytochrome is jointly owned by its two founders - Queen's researchers Dr Glenville Jones and Dr Martin Petkovich, along with PARTEQ Innovations, the university's technology transfer arm....
Corel creates subsidiary from its network and computing divisions Ottawa's Corel Corp has launched a wholly-owned subsidiary -- Corel Computer Corp (CCC) -- comprised of its network and computing divisions to offer hardware and software solutions to the corporate environment. Approximately 80 employees -- 65 of whom are software and hardware developers and engineers -- will move from the parent to the new firm, which has established separate Ottawa offices. Among those moving to the CCC are Eid Eid who becomes president after serving as Corel's VP technology. He will be replaced at Corel by Paul Skillen, with responsibility for the firm's WordPerfect technology suite and its US development team. Roger Bryanton, Corel's former director of video technology will head up CCC's engineering team. It is expected the CCC will remain majority owned by the parent and achieve self-sufficiency within 12 months through video product and Java-oriented development work....
CAE Machinery to develop ARC's wood panel stress rating system The Alberta Research Council (ARC) and Vancouver's CAE Machinery Ltd have entered a technology licensing agreement to develop and commercialize a new machine stress rating system for wood panels. CAE expects to bring the device, based upon patented ARC technology, to market within two years. It is designed to continuously monitor the stiffness and strength of structural panels such as oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, waferboard and particleboard as they roll off the production line. Potential customers include 70 OSB plants worldwide. ARC has developed the technology over the past 10 years and CAE anticipates the system will lead to even more advanced plant-wide optimization systems....
UBC teams with Westport for engine injection technology dev't The Univ of British Columbia is participating in a $1.1 million joint development project with Westport Innova- tions Inc to adapt the firm's high pressure direct (HPD) injection technology to the Series 60 four-stroke engine manufactured by Detroit Deisel Corp. The project will extend core HPD injection technologies through the development of advanced computer modelling tools and the exploration of alternative ignition agents. The project will be led by Dr Philip Hill, the inventor of HPD technology and a member of UBC's department of mechanical engineering. Funding for the project will be provided by Westport from its recent $3-million prospectus offering, and a $426,000 research grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council through the Industry Canada-Tri-Council Technology Partnerships Program....
Rowe Communications receives $5.6M from Working Ventures Rowe Communications Ltd has received $5.6 million in venture capital from Working Ventures Canadian Fund Inc to accelerate development of its electronic commerce software used to purchase and pay for intellectual information and services. The funding will also permit Rowe to expand its services worldwide using the Internet as the primary means for marketing and selling. The London ON-based firm targets libraries, purchasing agents and individuals in the academic, medical corporate and professional end user markets....
Boost in R&D spending at Micro Tempus underpins stronger sales Dramatically higher R&D outlays at Montreal-based Micro Tempus Inc are expected to help return the software developer profitability in the next fiscal year. Micro Tempus posted $1.1 million in R&D expenditures in FY97, up from $225,000 a year earlier, directed primarily toward development of Tempus Connectivity Solutions, its core product. TCS provides a single, secure corporate-wide data distribution infrastructure, allowing for secure file movement between a corporate Internet and a browser-based Internet client. The US market accounted for 90% of sales (half generated by maintenance services). For the year ended March 31, revenue was $6.2 million for a net loss of $259,000....
Amsdell releases first product based on its inverter technology Richmond ON-based Amsdell Inc has released the first product utilizing its new DC/AC electrical inverter technology. The inverter is a small device which forms part of an overall system to dramatically reduce the size and weight of any product using DC to AC power conversion. It will allow telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, military and transformation manufacturers to replace bulky iron transformers, while receiving 15 minutes of continuous power in the event of a power surge....
PERSONALITIES
Dr Ronald Duhamel has been appointed Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development, and Western Economic Diversification Canada. He replaces Dr Jon Gerrard who lost his seat in the June 2 election in a close race with Reform Party candidate Howard Hilstrom for Manitoba's Selkirk-Interlake riding. Duhamel is a third-time MP for the Manitoba riding of Saint Boniface, his home town. In his most recent victory he outpolled his main Reform and New Democratic Party competition by a margin of nearly two-to-one. Duhamel received a PhD and MA from the Univ of Toronto, and a BA from Lakehead Univ. Married with three children, Duhamel has served in several capacities including Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board (1994-96) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services (1993)....Dr Keith Brimacombe is the recipient of the Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, presented annually by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The Univ of British Columbia professor was honoured for his work in metallurgical process engineering. He holds UBC's Alcan Chair of Process Engineering and is director of the Centre for Metallurgical Process Engineering. Also honoured by NSERC as 1997 Steacie Fellows are: Dr Ross Ethier, Univ of Toronto; Dr Ian Manners, Univ of Toronto; Dr Robert Tibshirani, Univ of Toronto; and, Dr Andrew Weaver, Univ of Victoria. Winners of NSERC's national doctoral prize competition are: Dr Tricia Breen, Univ of Windsor; Dr Timothy Moon-Yew Chan, Univ of British Columbia; Dr John Long, Carleton Univ; and, Dr Gordon Squires, Univ of Toronto. Each receives a $5,000 prize from the federal government.... King Products Inc has appointed Roger Stopford as VP technology engineering and service responsible for multimedia technology integration, engineering and service support. Stopford comes to King after 17 years with Litton Systems Canada Ltd....
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